Raw Materials
The body, cab, boom and frame of a telescoping boom rough terrain forklift are normally made by a lift truck manufacturer. The most popular material for these subassemblies is steel, due to its tremendous strength. At times aluminum or steel forgings are also utilized. It is common for non-metallic materials such as nylon plastic blocks to be utilized as guides within the boom assembly. The other parts are usually purchased as finished products and the lift truck maker installs them.
Pre-assembled bought products may consist of several of the following: transmission, seat, engine, axles, tires, wheels and hoses, lights, back-up alarms, gauges and hydraulic cylinders. Normally, certain materials such as the lubricants and hydraulic fluid and fuel are purchased in bulk. These liquids are added as needed once the machine is assembled and has passed the meticulous testing sessions.
Design
The long and narrow design of the telescoping boom rough terrain forklift is most common, with a set of wheels at the front of the model and another set located towards the rear of the machinery. The unit's boom is mounted at the back of the forklift off of a pivot feature that is elevated several feet above the level of the frame. Usually, the cab is mounted on the left-hand side of the frame structure. Normally, the cab's bottom half is low and situated between the tires. The fuel tank and the hydraulic fuel tank are mounted on the right-hand side, opposite the cab. Along the center-line of the vehicle, the transmission and the engine are mounted within the frame.
Different manufacturers have contributed their own unique designs beyond this basic configuration. These days, there are numerous options existing on the market. Certain units of forklifts utilize a single hydraulic cylinder in order to elevate the boom, and other units utilize 2 cylinders. Several units make use of a side-to-side hydraulic frame leveling capability. This particular feature enables the frame to tilt up to 10 degrees relative to the axles in order to enable the machine to compensate for extreme axle articulation. Like for instance, this is utilized when the tires on one side of the lift truck are located down in a rut and the tires on the other side of the equipment are up, located on a mound of dirt.
Fork attachments are another popular design feature capable of swinging both right and left up to 45 degrees, that increases the precise load placement.